Interview with Dr Karen Joyce

Position: Senior Lecturer  

Organisation: Cook University, Cairns 

One-liner: Helping people discover science beyond lab coats and test tubes!  

We can use imagery to influence the way people think, and to help managers make data driven decisions.

The Interview

If you were to inspire more people to join you in using drones and geospatial technology to watch over our environment and its changes, what would be three reasons to why they should join you?

Lauren, Southport SHS, Gold Coast

Drone mapping is a great balance between using cutting edge tech and analytics, with getting out into the environment.

Drone imagery is absolutely spectacular to look at, so working with it is like being able to flick through photo albums of my favourite places every day.

We all have something to give back to the world, and drone mapping is a cool way.

What is exciting about being a biographer for mother earth?

Lauren, Southport SHS, Gold Coast

I love communicating messages through stories – particularly visually. And who has better stories to tell than mother earth? She also has THE best photo album, thanks to all the satellites that are constantly taking her picture.

What ideas do you have to keep our environment healthy in the future?

Grace, Moranbah SHS

Just like we have all been taught – treat others as you’d like to be treated yourself. What if we applied that same thinking to our relationship with mother earth? I’m sure that none of us would be happy if others continued to take things from us without giving back. So, let’s stop extracting from her and remember that we are all part of the environment, just as the environment is part of us.

At what age did you decide that what you do as a job now was something you wanted to specialise in?

Elsie, Western Cape College

I haven’t decided yet! The world is constantly evolving and new opportunities are available all the time. Why restrict myself when a new invention could be made tomorrow that will set me on a course for a new job or different specialisation?

What did you study in school and university to get to where you are now?

Grace, Moranbah SHS

I studied classes that I enjoyed at school including Japanese, textiles and fashion, physics, chemistry, and of course math and English. At university, I did a science degree with a major in Geographical Sciences.

Why do you think it’s important for women to get involved in emerging technologies like drones?

STEM Girl Power

I think every woman has the right to have full autonomy to choose the career in which they would like to get involved. Right now, there are many barriers to women getting involved in emerging technologies. Not only does that create an unfair situation for many women, but it also means that society isn’t benefiting from 100% of our human capital.

What is it like being a geospatial scientist in different industries like the military compared to small business, industry or academia?

STEM Girl Power

It’s great! I love the variety of opportunities that being a geospatial scientist affords me. I get to work with fabulous people around the world, and travel to incredible places.

You must see environmental impacts and changes using these technologies, how do you use this imagery and data to make change happen and use it in your lectures?

STEM Girl Power

We can use imagery to influence the way people think, and to help managers make data driven decisions. The old adage is true – a picture speaks one thousand words – and many of the drone and satellite images I work with do the talking for themselves.

Bio

I am a biographer for Mother Earth, using satellites and drones as my scientific illustrators.  

I share my experiences drawn from more than 20 years as a geospatial scientist in academia, military, industry, and small business to help people discover science beyond lab coats and test tubes.  

But I have an ulterior motive.  

I am passionate about how we can use drones and geospatial technology to watch over our environment and its changes. So the more people I can inspire to join me, the faster we can put plans in place to help keep our environment healthy into the future.